Tombstone epitaph., 1887-10-15
DRAMA IN WINNIPEG.
A BARN STORMlNG COMPANIES Ex.
 FERENCE IN MANITOBA.

An Audience of Indians. Trappers and
 Tratiers-Playing to Enormous Houses.
 A Primitive Theatre-Two PerforuaE
 ances in One Night-Receipts.
 Charles Arnold, who is now a star actor in England, tells of his visit to Manitoba in this fashion: ''We were advised to visit that place, as no dramatic company had at that time been there. Accordingly little party, numbering sixteen members of the stock company from Montreal, journeyed 5000 miles to Winnipeg, which was then Q little village. This was in 70 or 80. There were no public lights, pave- ments or roads in the city, which con- sisted of one street only. Winnipeg was inhabited by Indians, half breeds and Q few English settlers. We opened in the Market hall, immediately over the jail, and our performances were enlivened by the shrieks of the Indians and half breed women, who had taken too much '1re- water.'
 'I was very much disgusted with the noble rcd man'-he is nothing but Q beg gar, after all. The ideal Indian that Fenimorc Cooper refers to is simply knocked on the head. I found one in tellgcnt Indian, nephew of Sitting Bull, who had been educated at Q college in Min ncapolis. found he had decided tastc for tho drama, and from our repertoire of twenty pieces he selected Gilbert's 'En- gagcd' cnd Pygmalion and Galatca' as his favorite plays. Except for the novelty of tho life, there was little amusement for us in Winnipeg. The hotels were so crowded that VIC had to 1.-Two in tents. Wo slept on tho prairie, and for amusement wo bor- rowcd few laths, obtained somc fish hooks, and went along tho banks of tho brooks spesring frogs. This was great fun, Gs vo speared three or four dozen Of thcco edible reptiles in an hour. A most delicious supper was obtained from their legs, which were dipped in egg batter, rolled in biscuit paste and fried in boiling fat.
 ''Wc played to enormous houses in Winnipeg. Indians and half breeds nadc up our audiences, and every one seemed flush of money. Many carried rolls of bills about with them. There were no coppers used, and half dino wns tho lowest coin. While wo wcro in Winnipeg tho mayor of Emerson, small town of 500 inhabitants, camc up and said they he'd never had dramatic performance and insisted upon our visiting that place. Hc said there was not much in the way of theatre, but that they had an old bonded warehouse full of agricultural im- plements, soap boxes, brandy and cham pagrc caseo and by clearing those out he would rig up first class auditorium. Having two days to spare we decided to visit Emerson, and upon entering tho piece VIC were received by the inhabitants with Q treat ovation. A committee of ten he'd Lecn appointed to clear out tho building, which was nothing but Q barn, with windows on the ground floor. A holo was cut in tho building for purposes of exit. and another exit was constructed from the platform on to the prairie, where tents he'd Leen rigged up for the com pany. Thero was no house for mile around, end VIC had to dress in the tents.
 At night there was big house, every ono corning to town on horseback. It seemed lilo big horse fair, as the anil mals wcro picketed in the bushes around the building, and now and again we were startled by n shrill neigh from their direc- ton. The committee of ten citizens, headed by tho mayor, had done their work well, and while the old warehouse did not present. Q very inviting appear ance it served purpose. The stalls, or back seats, consisted of soap and candle boxes, brandy and champagne cases placed in rows in front of the stage tho extra charge for champagne cases). may ndd that the cases were not empty. Each seat represented dozen or two of brandy or champagne. The committee saw that no liberties were taken with the seats @. We performed Lester Wallack's military drama, "I,osedalc," which seemed to v,1a l.xl, members of our company had a lively time of it all through the performance, as the mosquitoes insisted on making their presence felt in @ most uncomfortable manner. It was Imaginable to see the gentle slaps the victims gave during the moro serious portions of tho play to rid themselves of the stinging pests.
 "On the second night of our stay we performed The Shaughraun,' with all tho effects, revolving tower, etc. At tho con- clusion of tho second act the committee waited on me and requested that we pro- long our visit another night. This could not be done, as we had engagements to meet elsewhere, but it occurred to mo that VIC could give another performance that night. Wo could finish playing Tho Shaughraun' at 10:45 o'clock, and by dis missing the audience for fifteen minutes ftart again with another play at il o'clock. announced this to tho audience end was received with cheers and cries of Play oll nightp Well, we finished The Shaugh- rcun,' crd tho nalc portion of tho audi cncc retired to tho rraiIic, while collect cd tlc admission fec for tho second rcr- forr.cIco from tho ladies. who remained seated; the gentlemen then returned, pay. ing ct tie door.
 "At 11:15 we commenced the second proGr2-,rIc, which consisted of n bur- lesquc cn Canadian politics, entitled III. M. s. Parliament written to 'Pncfcrc' music. Each character was made up to represent prominent Canadian stntcs- man. Our orchestra was small church organ, played by our conductor. That was my first experience of playing twice in one night, and there was only twelve shillings difference between the two houses. The people paid two shillings to look in the windows to scc the perform aEcc. Some borrowed end others stole ladders 60 that they might peep through tic uprcr windows, as the house would only hold 400 of 500 people. ."-Brool;lyn Eagle.
 Sleeping Alone.
 It is very much healthier to sleep alone.